Making a Splash— Again!

The Charles R. Wood Aquatic Therapy Center pool has now reopened at Prospect Center in Queensbury. On October 9, there was a celebration with Prospect Board Chairperson Carl Cedrone leading a ceremony to recognize donors, thank the community and show off the large scale marine life mural created by artist Brendan Clancy.

The aquatic therapy pool had to be closed in late January for necessary repairs. A fundraising effort was launched immediately and more than $111,000 was donated in eight months. Then, the parts were ordered and work completed. CloverPatch Preschool and Langan School students from Prospect Center, therapists, and many others are happy to be back in the water. The 90 degree water coupled with physical and occupational therapy sessions benefit participants in many ways.

“The therapeutic pool can be calming, improve mobility, ease pain and assist with rehabilitation after injuries,” explained Cedrone. “It is important to the community and to the students of all ages, therapists, and staff at Prospect Center.”

The reopening would not have happened without the generous support of the Charles R. Wood Foundation, Nick Barber, Elizabeth Miller, the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association which donated proceeds from its 2018 Parade of Homes, area businesses, individuals and parents like Crystal Hinman, who launched an online crowdfunding effort.

“This is an emotional moment for me,” said Hinman, who has a son, Moses, and daughter, Beatrix, who thoroughly enjoy the aquatic therapy pool. “We are keeping a happy level as long as we can. I only Instagrammed a couple of things online. It was not that hard and we really, really appreciate that the pool is open again.”

Several people commented the new artwork made the pool more inviting to all and less of a clinical setting. Therapists reported that children sometimes focus on a particular sea turtle or dolphin pictured in the mural and consider the creatures a friendly presence.

Special thanks to the Touba Family Foundation and LARAC— Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, for the arts grant to make the mural a reality.